Flexible sheet treating apparatus



Feb. 18, 1964 n A. M. BERNsTr-:IN 3,121,436

FLEXIBLE SHEET TREATING APPARATUS Filed June ll, 712962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f/@EO ffl. 556/1/575//1/ 3MP/6. 6 BY 50a Afro/@Mfr Feb. 18, 1964 A. M. BERNSTEIN 3,121,436

FLEXIBLE SHEET TREATING APPARATUS Filed June ll, 1962 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A fro/PNE( United States Patent O Y 3,121,435 FLEXEBLESHEET @EATING APPARATUS Aifred M., Bernstein, 39 Birch fit., ynhroolr, NE. inea ,time 1i, rasa, sa. ris. senses 10 Claims. (Cl. 13d-63) This invention relatcsgenerally to apparatus for treating flexible sheet material with liquid, and is especially concerned with the conveying of a llexible sheet through a bath.

While the device of the present invention has been primarily developed and employed for'use in copying or reproducing processes, and will be illustrated and described hereinafter with particular reference thereto, it is appreciated that `the instant apparatus is capable of many varied applications, all of which are intended to be comprehended herein.

It is one object of the present invention to provide apparatus for treating a exible sheet with liquid, which is substantially automatic in operation, requiring only insertion of the sheet whereupon the apparatus proceeds to effe-ct the desired treatment and ydischarge the treated sheet.

The apparatus of the present invention further contemplates -the simultaneous treatment of plural sheets, such as a master and copy sheet employed in photocopying operation, and effects discharge of sheet material in substantially completely dry condition so as to be capable of immediate handling and use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a unique apparatus of the type described wherein the rtreating liquid may be conveniently metered to the bath location, and the entire apparatus may be portable and contain a supply of the treating liquid without danger of spillage or waste.

It is a more particular obiect of the present invention to provide a highly improved apparatus for treating a ilexible sheet with liquid, wherein a depressor roll is located in rolling, depressing and forming engagement with a pliable conveyor to define thereof a liquid-containing well or trough for treatment therein of a flexible sheet being conveyed by the depressor roll and conveyor and squeezed dry therebetween.

it is still another object of the pres-ent invention to provide apparatus for treating a flexible sheet with liquid having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, which apparatus is extremely simple in construction, requiring a minimum of parts, entirely reliable and durable throughout a long useful life, and which can be economically manufactured, operated and maintained, for sale at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by -the appended claims.

ln the drawings:

FlG. l is a top perspective View showing apparatus of the present invention in operative condition of use.

FG. `2 is a transverse, sectional elevational view taken substantially along the line 2 2. of BIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line -S of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken substantially along the line 4 4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing in greater detail the structure shown in PEG. 4.

FiG. 6 is a partial sectional elevational View showing .i ,121 ,i3d Patented Feb. 1%, 19%4 lCC a slightly modified embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGS. l-3 thereof, the apparatus is there generally designated lil, and includes a generally horizontal container or casing 11. The casing 11 may be of generally box-like configuration, including a generally rectangular bottorrr wall 12, upstanding side walls 13 and 14 at opposite side edges of the bottom wall, and rear walls 15 and .16 upstanding from front and rear edges of the bottom wall `and extending laterally between the side walls. lnteriorly of the casing 1'1 are provided a pair of forwardly and rearwardly extending partitions 17 and 1d, the former being located in adjacent, spaced relation with the side wall-13, and the latter being located in adjacent, spaced rela-tion with the side wall 141. A cover or lid Ztl may extend entirely across the top of the casing 11, preferably being openable, as by hinged connection Z1 to rear wall 16, or other suitable connection means.

The partitions 17 and 1S subdivide the interior of the casing 11 into a relatively large, central or main coinpartment 23, and a pair of auxiliary or side compartments 24 and 2.5. The partitions 17 and 118 may be substantially identical, the partition 18 being best seen in FIG. 2 as formed with a forward slot or cutout 26 extending generally downward from the upper partition edge and terminating in a lower region 27 which curves rearward toward the rear wall 16 adjacent to and spaced above the bottom wall 12. An intermediate slot or cutout 23 is formed in the partition '18 extending downward from the upper edge thereof and terminating in a rearwardly extending lower portion 129 spaced medially between the lower and upper edges of the partition. Also, a rear slot or cutout 3d* is formed in the partition 18 extending generally downward from the upper edge thereof and terminating in a forwardly extending lower portion 31 spaced medially between the lower and upper partition edges. Thus, the `slots or cutouts 26, 28 and fz@ are all in the nature of bayonet slots and serve to journal shafts, as will appear more fully hereinafter. The partition 17 is substantially identical to the partition 18 and is formed with corresponding forward, intermediate and rear slots 32, 34 and 3e, respectively, in spaced, lateral alignment with the forward, intermediate and rear slots of partition 18.

.Extending laterally between the partitions 17 and 18, adjacent to the fro-nt wall 1 5, there is provided a rearwardly and downwardly inclined lower or forward guide wall 37, which may be strengthened by a generally horizontal wall 33 extending from the lower edge of the guide wal-167 to the front casing wall 15. The walls 3-7 and 38 may be secured to the partitions 17 and 18, md front wall 15, by suitable detachable securement means to permit removal, if desired.` An :intermediate guide wall 39 extends laterally between the partitions 17 and 18 and obliquely rearward and downward in generally parallel spaced relation with the forward guide wall 37. The intermediate guide wall 39 may also be detaohably secured to the partitions 17 and 1d, by any suitable means. Thus, there is delined between the guide walls 37 and 39 a passageway iii extending obliquely downward and rearward; and, Ia lateral-ly extending lslot il is formed in the casing top wall 2@ in registry 4with the upper end of passageway di).

Rearward'and over the guide wall 3*) there is provided an upwardly opening liquid reservoir 43, which may extend laterally between and be detachably secured to the partitions 17 and 18. The liquid reservoir or container 43 includes a front wall dd which extends obliquely downward and rearward in generally parallel spaced relation with the guide wall 39, and la bottom wall 'f5 extending rearward from the lower edge of front wall da and teralan/iss miniating at the lower edge of au upstanding rear wall 416. The inclined front reservoir wall 44 combines with the intermediate guide wall 39 to define therebetween an obliquely rearwardly and downwardly extending passageway 47, the reservoir wall 44 thus providing a rear 'or upper guide wall :for the passageway 47. Formed in the lid or top wall Ztl of the casing l1 is a laterally extending slot 48 in registry with and opening into the upper end of the passageway 47.

The reservoir 43 is adapted to contain a quantity of treating liquid 50. The liquid 561 may be discharged by suitable discharge or metering means 1 associated with the reservoir 43, such as Ia shank 52 extending vertically through the reservoir, slidably downward through the reservoir bottom wall 45 and upward through the top wall Zit. A valve element 53 may be provided on the [lower end of the shank or stem S2, and an actuating knob 54 on the upper shank end, While resilient means 5S may be employed to resiliently yieldably maintain the discharge means 51 in closed condition. Thus, depression of the knob 54 effects opening of the reservoir bottom ywall 45 to gravitationally dispense treating liquid 50. The knob 54 and spring 55 may be removable for opening of the top wall 2t?. Further, while the reservoir i3 and guide walls 37 and 39 have been described as detachably mounted on the partitions 17 and 18, it is appreciated that any appropriate mounting arrangement may be employed. For example, such elements may be carried by the top wall 20, if desired.

Mounted in the main compartment 23 of the casing lll is an endless-conveyor structure, generally designated 60, which moves about generally horizontal, laterally extending axes. The conveyor 66 includes a pair of l-aterally extending, generally horizontal and parallel, forwardly and rearwardly spaced support rolls 6l and 62. The forward support roll 6l is of lesser' diameter than the rear support roll 62, and extends laterally between the partitions 17 and 1S, having stub shafts 63 and 64, respectively journaled in the terminal regions of slots 32 and 26. The larger, rear support roll 62 is provided with a stub shaft 65 journaled in the terminal region of slot 36, and on its other end is provided with a shaft 66 in driven relation with a motor 67 mounted in the compartment 25. The conveyor 66 further includes an endless belt 68 which is trained about the forward and rearward support rolls 6l and 62 for rotation therewith and defining a yieldable conveyor surface. It is, of course, apparent that the support rolls 61 and 62 are removable from the casing .11 by withdrawal through the slots 32, y26, 36 and 30. In the embodiment of FIGS. l-S, the belt 68 may be considered as fabricated of rubber or other suitable elastic material.

Thus, the conveyor 69 is constituted of the spaced forward and rearward support rolls 6l and 62, and the belt 68 extending about the rolls for rotation therewith, the belt defining lower and upper ights 69 and 70, respectively. It will be observed that the passageways 4) and 47 open at their lower ends over and toward the upper belt flight 76, adjacent to the forward support roll 6l.

Extending laterally within the main compartment 23, in spaced relation between the support rolls 61 and 62, is a generally horizontal depressor roll 72. The depressor roll 72 is located closer to the rear support roll 62 than to the front support roll 61 and may Ibe of a relatively large diameter comparable to that of the rear support roll. Mounting the depressor roll '72 for axial rotation are end shafts 73 and 74, respectively journaled in slots 34 Iand 28 and locating the depressor roll in depressing engagement with the upper surface of upper belt flight 76. Further, the configuration and extent of the depressor roll 72 =laterally of the compartment 23 is less than the lateral extent of the belt 68, so that the depressor roll depresses a laterally medial region of the belt, leaving upstanding side margins 75 and 76 of the belt beyond the Idepressor roll. Further, I,as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4,

the ends of the depressor roll 72 are advantageously rounded or have rounded corners, as at 77 and 78.

By this depressing action of the depressor roll 72 downward against the upper surface of the upper belt iiight 7 9, there is formed in the latter a depressed central I region Sti generally directly Ibelow the lower ends of passageways 4t) and 47, and 'beneath the reservoir 43. This depressed upper belt flight region titl therefore provides a well or trough for receiving and containing liquid Sti from the reservoir d3.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the depressor roll 72 is located closer to the rear support roll 62 than to the front support roll 6l, although spaced from the rear support roll by a distance greater than the thickness of the belt 68. Also, the elevation of the upper belt stretch 76 over the front support roll 6l is less than that over the rear support roll 62. By this arrangement, a substantial well is formed by the upper iiight region 80 between the front support roll 61 and depresso-r `roll 72.

The well region S0 remains effectively closed to the movement of liquid rearward past the depressor roll 72, as the rounded-corner configura-tions 77 and 78 permit of close conforming engagement therewith by the belt margins 75 and 76. In addition, a pair of laterally spaced belt guides 32 and 83 project inward toward each other from respective partitions i7 and 13` medially between the forward support roll 61 and depressor roll 72. The guide members 82 and S3 may be substantially identical, the former being best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 as of generally vertically disposed platelike configuration having a concavely arcuate cutout `84- for supporting engagement with the adjacent side margin of the upper belt run 70. Thus, the arcuate cutout 84- of guide member 82 serves to deiiect the side margin 7S upward to define thereof a side wall for the liquid-receiving well region 89. This guide structure 82 also cooperates with the rounded-corner configuration 77 of the depressor roll 72 to insure effective sealing engagement therewith. Of course, the laterally opposite guide member 83 operates in substantially the same manner but with respect to the belt margin 76 and the depressor-roll corner configuration 7?.

General-ly directly over the region between depressor roll 72 and rear support roll 62, the top wall Ztl is provided with a laterally extending through opening or slot 36, for a purpose appearing presently.

in operation, the conveyor 6i? travels generally counterclockwise as seen in FIG. 2, belt direction being indicated by arrow 38, and direction of front and rear support rolls 6l and `62 being indicated by the arrows thereon. The depressor roll 72 is in rolling engagement with the upper surface of the upper belt stretch 70, and therefore rotates clockwise, as seen in FlG. 2 and indicated by the arrow on the depressor roll. This rotation of conveyor 6@ and depressor roll 72 may be effected by any desired means, one being shown in PEG. 3 as constituted of a gear 82 keyed -to shaft 66 and in meshing engagement with a gear 96| keyed to shaft 74. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment both the depressor roll 72 and conveyor 60 are positively driven and in synchronism with each other, the conveyor being driven through roll 62. Of course, other driving arrangements may be employed, if desired.

One or more flexible sheets, such as sheets 91 and 92 in FG. l, may be engaged downward in respective passageways it? and 47, and there pass into the liquid-containing well titi. The fiexible sheet or sheets are thereby treated by liquid in the well Si) and conveyed between the depressor roll 72 and upper belt stretch 70 rearward for discharge upward through the top-wall slot 86. By this conveyance of the sheet or sheets between the depressoi roll 72 and upper belt stretch 76, the sheet or sheets being conveyed are squeezed and issue from the casing in substantially completely dry condition.

The discharge mechanism 5l of the reservoir 53 may be such as t0 meter a predetermined quantity of liquid to the well 80 as may be required for a single sheet treatment, or otherwise, as desired.

In the above-described embodiment, the belt 68 has been shown as of elastic material resiliently depressed by the depressor roll 72. However, in the embodiment of FIG. 6 is shown a modilication wherein a belt 68a may be of flexible, relatively inelastic material, if desired. The compartment partition 17a is formed with a slot 28a extending downward from the upper edge :and thence forward at the region 29a, whence it extends upward to terminate in a reentrant region 33. Of course, the opposite partition corresponding to partition 18` of the rstdescribed embodiment may be similarly slotted. A depressor roll 72a has its end shaft 73a disposed in the lower slot region 29a, :and its opposite end shaft cor-respondingly disposed in the adjacent slot. Suitable resilient means, such as a spring 35 may be engaged in the reentrant slot portion 33 and in resilient downward bearing engagement with the roller end shaft '73a to yieldably urge the latter downward while permitting axial rotation thereof. Similar resilient means is associa-ted with the opposite depressor-roll end shaft. By this arrangement, the depressor roll 72a is maintained in depressing engagement with the upper surface of the upper belt flight 70a to form the liquid-receiving well Stia and operate upon iiexible sheet material in the same manner as the first-described embodiment.

From the foregoing, it is now understood that the present invention provides an apparatus for treating flexible sheet material which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture, maintenance and operation.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is to be understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secu-re by Letters Patent, is:

l. Apparatus for treating a exible sheet with liquid, said apparatus comprising an endless conveyor having a yieldable surface, and roller means in rollin-g engagement with said conveyor to convey a flexible sheet between said roller means and conveyor, said roller means having its ends configured in an arc and being located laterally medially of said conveyor, in depressing rolling engagement therewith, thus to provide a 'well with liquidretaining sides, whereby a .tiexible sheet is adapted to be conveyed by said conveyor and roller means through a liquid confined in said well for treatment thereby.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in combination with a liquid reservoir, and normally closed value discharge means associated with said reservoir for selectively discharging or blocking flow of liquid from said reservoir to said well.

3. Apparatus according to claim l, said conveyor fi being resiliently yieldable ywidthwise and lengthwise to form said 'well under depressing engagement of said roller means.

4. Apparatus for treating a flexible sheet with liquid, said apparatus comprising a pair of rotary generally horizontal substantially parallel Support rolls, a iiexible belt trained about said support rolls and having upper and lower iiights, and a rotary generally horizontal depressor roll disposed generally parallel to and spaced between said support rolls in rolling engagement with the upper surface of said upper tiight to convey a flexible sheet between said depressor roll and belt, said depressor roll being located laterally medially of and in depressing engagement with the upper belt liight to define thereof a well for containing liquid, whereby a iiexible sheet is adapted to be conveyed by said belt and depressor roll through a liquid in said well for treatment thereby.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, in combination with a liquid reservoir located above said well, and discharge means operatively associated with said reservoir for gravitationally discharging liquid from said reservoir to said Well.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4, said depressor roll being configured to depress a laterally medial region of said belt, and laterally spaced guides engageable with the lateral margins of the upper iiight of said belt to deliect the same upward and define liquid-retaining side walls thereof.

7. Apparatus according to claim 4, said depressor roll being located proximate to one of said support rolls and spaced from the other of said support rolls to define said welll between said depressor roll and said other support ro 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, in combination with means for driving said belt and depressor roll in the direction to convey a sheet through said well and toward said one support roll, whereby a conveyed sheet is treated with liquid and subsequently squeezed between said depressor roll and belt to remove liquid therefrom.

9. Apparatus according to claim l, said conveyor comprising a pair of spaced rotary rolls, and a iiexible belt extending about said rolls for rotation therewith, said roller means being located in spaced relation between said conveyor rolls, said belt being relatively elastic, and said roller means being shorter than the width of the belt, the lateral marginal regions of said belt conforming to said arc and dening liquid-retaining side walls.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, having laterally spaced guide means engaging the lateral margins of said belt to aid in dening said liquid-retaining side walls.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,078,272 Novak Apr. 27, 1937 2,993,470 Stickel July 25, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 548,847 Belgium Dec. 21, 1956 

1. APPARATUS FOR TREATING A FLEXIBLE SHEET WITH LIQUID, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING AN ENDLESS CONVEYOR HAVING A YIELDABLE SURFACE, AND ROLLER MEANS IN ROLLING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CONVEYOR TO CONVEY A FLEXIBLE SHEET BETWEEN SAID ROLLER MEANS AND CONVEYOR, SAID ROLLER MEANS HAVING ITS ENDS CONFIGURED IN AN ARC AND BEING LOCATED LATERALLY MEDIALLY OF SAID CONVEYOR, IN DEPRESSING ROLLING ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, THUS TO PROVIDE A WELL WITH LIQUIDRETAINING SIDES, WHEREBY A FLEXIBLE SHEET IS ADAPTED TO BE CONVEYED BY SAID CONVEYOR AND ROLLER MEANS THROUGH A LIQUID CONFINED IN SAID WELL FOR TREATMENT THEREBY. 